From vivian Israel, Port Harcourt
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Rivers State representatives at the National Assembly have urged the police high command to provide an enabling environment for lawmakers of the State Assembly to resume legislative business.
The appeal came on the heels of an Abuja Federal High Court ruling which transferred legislative business back to the lawmakers. Prior to the ruling, the National Assembly was in charge of the activities of the state Assembly following the crisis that engulfed the House.
The National legislators also expressed disapproval of the police conduct denying lawmakers access to the Assembly complex.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday on behalf of other National Assembly members from the state, the chairman, senate committee on petroleum downstream, Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South East, called on the police to ensure peace for the lawmakers to get back to legislative business following the court ruling.
He said, “At any given point in time, we had always wanted the House (Rivers State House of Assembly) to do its job. The reason the House could not sit was because of fears of security and the crisis that erupted every time the House attempted to sit. So now that this judgement has been given, while the National Assembly is appealing the judgement, we also want to appeal to the security agencies to provide an enabling environment for the Rivers State House of Assembly to carry out its constitutional responsibilities”.
As representatives of the state at the National Assembly, Senator Abe said they had always wanted the state legislators to do their job unhindered.
According to him, it was welcome news that the court ruled in favour of the members of the State House of Assembly for them to return to their constitutional responsibilities to people of the state.
He disclosed that they had earlier met with the Rivers Assembly members who assured them of their readiness to resume legislative business, but regretted the police action on the lawmakers.
“In fact, they (lawmakers) went to the House of Assembly today (Thursday) to try to inspect and resume their responsibilities but they couldn’t gain access to the place because the Nigerian police refused to allow them access to the premises”.
Those present included Senator Magnus Abe, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, Hon. Ogbona Nwuke, Hon. Dawari George, and Honourable Asita O. Asita, amongst others.
